REGION, April 9th- The Communication Workers of America (CWA) Union District 13 filed another complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Region Four in Philadelphia against an Lehigh Valley employer alleging the company violated the National Labor Relations Act (NLRAct).

The union filed the Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge on March 31st, 2010 against LifePath Inc., High Point Boulevard in Bethlehem, which provides specialized support services for mentally and physically disabled persons throughout the Lehigh Valley.

The CWA also filed a complaint with the NLRB on January 13th, 2010 alleging the Employer failed and otherwised refused to supply information requested that is necessary for the administration and enforcement of the colllective bargaining agreement and to participate in a timely manner in the grievance process. Specifically, the LifePath Inc. has refused to comply with relevent and necessary information requests submitted by James Byrne, CWA Representative pertaining to the discharge of Nicosia Henry, a member of the union.

In January 2008, the CWA alleged LifePath violated the NLRAct when the Employer terminated Ms. Henry while conducting protected activity on behalf of the Union.

According to news stories previously published in the newspaper, CWA Local 13500 organized the employees of LifePath Inc. approximately 29 facilities that are located throughout the Lehigh Valley in 2007. Around 467 employees were eligible to participate in the union election.

The recent complaint states the Employer has again refused to provide the Union with information that is relevent to the grievance it filed regarding the discharge of Ms. Henry. The Union alleges LifePath Inc. has refused to supply the names of witnesses who provided information in connection with her discharge.

LEHIGH VALLEY, April 6th- According to labor data provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Center for Workforce Information and Analysis in Harrisburg, the Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by two-tenths of a percentage point to 9.8 percent. The MSA includes Lehigh,
Northampton, and Carbon Counties of Pennsylvania and Warren County, New Jersey. Twelve months ago the unemployment rate for the region was 7.7 percent.

There are fourteen Metropolitan Statistical Area’s in Pennsylvania and the Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton Metropolitan Statistical Area is tied with the Williamsport MSA for the third highest unemployment rate in the state.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Pennsylvania is 8.9 percent, increasing by one-tenth of a percentage point from the previous report, which was released approximately four weeks ago. There are 577,000 Pennsylvania residents without jobs. That number does not include workers who have exhausted their benefits and have stopped looking for work. Pennsylvania has a seasonally adjusted workforce of 6,451,000 and 5,875,000 of them have employment. The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was reported to be 9.7 percent, unchanged from the previous report. There are 14,871,000 residents nationally unemployed which also does not include workers who benefits have been exhausted. There are more than 16,000,000 workers in the nation without employment.

The data shows the Johnstown MSA and the Erie MSA are tied for the highest unemployment rate in the state at 10.1 percent. The Reading MSA has the third highest unemployment rate in the state at 9.9 percent.

The State College MSA has the lowest unemployment rate in Pennsylvania at 6.4 percent, with the Lebanon MSA second at 7.6 percent. The Harrisburg/Carlisle MSA has the third lowest unemployment rate in Pennsylvania at 8.2 percent with the Altoona MSA fourth at 8.1 percent.

The Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton MSA has the third largest civilian labor force in Pennsylvania at 427,600, rising by 4,100 during the past twelve months. There are 41,800 residents in the MSA without jobs, rising by 9,400 during the past twelve months.

The Philadelphia MSA has the largest civilian labor force in Pennsylvania at 3,001,400 with 278,300 residents not working. The Pittsburgh MSA has the second largest civilian labor force at 1,244,900, with 109,200 residents unemployed. The Harrisburg/Carlisle MSA has the fourth largest civilian labor force in the state at 287,800, with 23,200 residents unemployed. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre MSA has the fifth largest civilian labor force at 287,700 with 27,700 residents not working.

Carbon County has the highest unemployment rate in the MSA at 11.6 percent, increasing by four-tenths of a percentage point from the previous report and increasing by 2 and four-tenths of a percentage points from twelve months before. Carbon County has a civilian labor force of 32,100 with 3,700 residents without jobs.

Lehigh County unemployment rate is 9.8 percent with a civilian labor force of 179,700. There are 17,300 residents within Lehigh County without jobs, increasing by 3,100 from twelve months before.

Northampton County also has a unemployment rate of 9.8 percent, increasing by five-tenths of a percentage point from the previous report. Northampton County has a civilian labor force of 154,700 with 14,900 without jobs, increasing by 4,100 from twelve months ago.

The retail trade sector was the biggest loser of jobs from the previous report dropping by 900 with construction jobs second, down by 200. Government educational jobs increased by 1,100 during the month as students returned to the classrooms following the winter break.